For years now, Aizat has been doing his sums on his bedroom floor, using an old bench as his desk.

The room is barely lit - even when the lights are on.

Still, the 13-year-old said he has the better deal. His younger sister, Nur Nurziana, nine, with whom Aizat shares the bedroom, has to study in the living room, with the television blaring.

Neither child is doing well in school said their mother, housewife Nor Liana Kamis.

But a kind gesture has made a difference in their home.

Yesterday, their three-room flat in Yishun was spruced up and they even received new furniture donated by HSBC Bank.

The children received a study desk each - orange for Aizat, pink for Nur Nurziana - and matching chairs. Their room was painted a sunny yellow and the dim bulbs replaced.

The two also received an electronic dictionary and a $50 book voucher each.

Aizat's family was not the only household to get spruced up this week.

About 40 other flats around the island belonging to families whose monthly income per head falls below $450 were renovated by more than 350 HSBC staff members.

The hands-on project is part of the bank's charity drive this year, and the culmination of many months' work alongside the people being assisted.

Through interviews with the families and the help of voluntary welfare organisations, the bank realised that many of the children did not perform at their best at school due partly to an unconducive study environment at home.

'When some of our staff volunteers visited the homes, they found most of them to be cluttered, with little space for the child to study,' said Mr Goh Kong Aik, head of the bank's corporate sustainability department.

About 85 children - mainly from primary and secondary schools - will benefit from the charity effort.

HSBC is not only spending time helping these disadvantaged children. The project has also garnered the support of corporate sponsors, who are pledging money to their cause.

So far, the bank has raised more than $250,000.

All contributions will be donated to The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund, with HSBC matching the donations dollar- for-dollar.